Svetlahorsk District Executive Committee determines new site for mass events

A new regulation of the Svetlahorsk District Executive Committee “On mass Events”, adopted January 16, 2015, has been published at the National Legal Internet Portal.

Let us remind that according to the preliminary decision, a “stage area in the culture and recreation park” was determined as the only venue for mass events in the city. As it was found during the hearings on the lawsuit of the civil society activist Yury Liashenka (whom the local authorities had banned to hold a picket), the “stage area” didn't exist and the park of “culture and recreation” could hardly be called so due to its neglect.

The new ruling of the executive committee designates another venue for pickets and rallies - “the right sector of the stadium “Bumazhnik” (“Paperworker”) of the junior sportive school No. 2. The applicants for mass events also need to enter into service contracts with the district police department, ambulance and public utilities.

By the way, Yury Liashenka is handicapped and moves in a wheelchair. November 25 he held an unauthorized picket at the central square of Svetlahorsk. He was detained by an ambulance car, allegedly called by an unidentified person. Though the activist hadn't entered into a service contract with the ambulance, he was guarded to the polyclinic, where he was forcedly given some injections, allegedly against high blood pressure.

What concerns the new venue for mass events, the stadium “Bumazhnik” is fenced. In such conditions, one can hardly realize the aim of mass events – attract attention of the public. Taking into account that the venue is situated at the stadium of a sportive school, it will be much easier for the authorities to put bans on pickets, referring to other events, such as sports competitions, held there.